Soccer Market: Rush to buy Euro-stars starts

Real Madrid wants Modric; Juventus grabs Giovinco

(Ansamed) - ROME, JUNE 22 - With operators gazes fixated on
events at the European championships in Poland and Ukraine, the
player-buying season has yet to get properly under way.
The current recession may also be behind the few big offers
hitting the table, along with a keen scrutiny of possibly hidden
investments. But the European championship is bringing some new
faces to the forefront, like the Czech defender Theodor Gebre
Selassie, whose performance for his national side grabbed the
limelight leading to him being snaffled up by Werder Bremen. The
German club has made the purchase from Slovan Liberec official,
the club where the defender has a contract running until 2016.
Montpellier forward Olivier Giroud is spending his Euros on the
substitute bench. There is little room for him in France's
attack, but the player has shone thanks to the 21 goals scored
in the championships. So a contract with Arsenal is being
drafted. According to Gunners coach Arsene Wenger, ''Giroud has
not played much so far at the Euros, but it is 90% sure that he
will be playing for us. He has great potential and will
integrate very well with our group and our playing system ".
For Luka Modric, on the other hand, the Euros are already over:
the talented midfielder plays for Croatia, which lost out to
Italy and France in its group. Modric has however won a host of
suitors and Real Madrid has offered 37 million euros to
Tottenham for his services. The London club is tempted, but
don't want to lose one of their stars while they are in the
process of installing a new trainer. Hot favourite for the job
is Portugal's Villas Boas, who is looking for a fresh start
after being ditched by Chelsea.
Another much sought-after Euro star is Spanish defender Jordi
Alba of Del Bosque and Valencia: first in the line for him is
Barcelona, who are ready to spend 12 million, although Valencia
would probably want at least 15. Should the deal go ahead,
Brazilian defender Adriano would leave the Catalan club,
possibly ending up with Milan.
Another player leaving Milan is Clarence Seedorf: the Dutch
forward leaves after ten years of success and could end his
playing career in Barzil's Botafogo. To replace him, Milan is
looking for a play-maker, as club Chair Galliani explained. This
would not be Kaka', who seems ready to leave Real Madrid bound
for Paris Saint Germain under his former coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Back in Italy, Juventus has finally resolved to invest in the
imaginative play of Sebastian Giovinco, who leaves Parma for 11
million euros, to boost Juventus' Champions League chances next
year. (ANSAmed).